100 Ridgeview Drive, Suite 101 Cary, NC 27511 US
Professional Sedation Dentistry
Fear of visiting the dentist is one of the most common types of phobias. Fortunately, sedation dentistry can help put you at ease, whether you're having your teeth cleaned or you need a filling. The dentists of Implant & General Dentistry in Cary, NC explain how sedation dentistry can help you.
Sedation helps reduce stress
Your sedation dentist will help you relax during your visit by offering oral, inhaled or intravenous medications that will relieve your feelings of anxiety and help you feel calm during your examination or treatment.
Pain won't be an issue
Although many people who have dental phobia say that they're afraid of the dentist, what most are actually afraid of is experiencing pain. Whether you had a bad experience at the dentist when you were young, or your phobia is more recent, sedation will not only help you feel more relaxed, but will also increase your tolerance to pain. In fact, less anesthesia may be needed when you're under sedation.
You won't need to return as frequently
Often when a patient has a dental phobia, only a small amount of work can be done in one visit before they become overwhelmed. A visit that normally takes an hour may have to be broken up into two or three shorter visits. When you take advantage of sedation dentistry, you'll be able to handle that hour-long appointment and won't need to return to the dentist's office in Plymouth until your next checkup.
Everything will be less scary when you take advantage of sedation
If you have a dental phobia, the sights, sounds and smells of the dentist's office can make you feel nervous and fearful. When you choose sedation, those things won't bother you. After a positive experience, you may feel a little more confident about returning for your next visit. In fact, depending on the type of sedation, you choose, you may only have a hazy memory of the visit.
Ways to Relieve Anxiety
Oral Sedation — Oral sedation (given by mouth) is a popular option for many people precisely because it does not require the use of needles. Oral sedatives are either swallowed whole in pill form or can be dissolved under the tongue. Both methods work in a matter of minutes. A variety of oral sedative and anxiolytic (anxiety-dissolving) medications have been developed through extensive research and testing to make your experience of dental treatment as comfortable and relaxing as possible. All have long safety records after decades of use, and several even have “amnesic” properties, meaning you will remember little to nothing, even though you are conscious throughout the treatment. Commonly prescribed medications include Valium®, Halcion®, Sonata®, Ativan®, Vistaril®, and Versed®. To learn more, view our chart on Types of Oral Sedatives
Inhalation Conscious Sedation — Nitrous oxide, a sedative you inhale, has been used in dental offices for nearly 100 years. It is a relatively poor pain reliever but a very good anti-anxiety medication. It is administered through a nasal hood, which resembles a small cup that is placed over your nose. The oxygen mixed with nitrous oxide provides a light-headed or even euphoric feeling, which is quick to wear off so there is no “hangover” effect. All bodily functions remain essentially normal during the use of this sedative, which is very safe.
IV Conscious Sedation — Sedatives delivered directly into the bloodstream intravenously (into the vein) are more potent than when taken orally, and the amnesic effects may be more profound. Because IV sedation has an almost immediate effect on the body and its functions — including heart rate, blood pressure and breathing — there is a higher degree of risk associated with it than with other types of sedatives. There is also a higher level of training required for those who administer it. As with all sedation (except nitrous oxide), you must be monitored with specialized equipment throughout your IV sedation treatment. The main advantage is that drugs administered this way work immediately and the level of sedation can be adjusted more quickly and easily. And with most sedatives, you won't remember a thing about your dental procedure after the sedative wears off.
